Wilmington, Ohio – The $30,000 Grand Prix of WEC – Wilmington Winter Classic saw a competitive six-horse jump-off Saturday evening with times just tenths of a second apart. Bobby Murphy laid the tracks that allowed Richard Rinehart (USA) to ultimately land a one-two finish with The Diamant Rose Z (Toulon x Diamant Z) and Captain America 10 (Contendro), respectively.
“We are getting ready to go to Florida. I thought it would be good to jump the horses in a class before we head down there,” Rinehart noted after making his quick trip to Wilmington worth it.
First in the jump-off with his 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Captain America 10, Rinehart set the leading pace in 40.252 seconds.
Izzy Besiel (USA) entered with her quickest 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding, Diaz Barbotiere (Messire Ardent x Quambera Barbotiere), to stop the clock in 40.291 seconds to briefly slide into second.
“Both of my horses are pretty fast across the ground, so I really just wanted two nice double clear rounds. When Captain was leading later in the class, I felt pretty comfortable with Diamant and knew I didn’t need to go any faster than I went with Captain,” Rinehart shared.
Last to go, Rinehart returned with the 14-year-old Zangersheide mare, The Diamant Rose Z, to stop the clock in 39.471 seconds to beat his own time and move Beisel into third.
As a frequent competitor and winner at WEC, Rinehart discussed his thoughts on the facility, “I can’t say enough good things about WEC. They run it so well. They keep the place very clean. It is almost a letdown when you go to other indoor shows. It is a first-class operation.”
$30,000 Grand Prix Results:
1 The Diamant Rose Z, Richard Rinehart, Luke Rinehart | 0 | 39.471
2 Captain America 10, Richard Rinehart, Catherine Rinehart | 0 | 40.252
3 Diaz Barbotiere, Izzy Beisel, Izzy Beisel | 0 | 40.291
4 Zendaya, Lanie Thomas, Neil Badcock | 0 | 40.348
5 Casey H, Sam Pegg, Harlow Investment Enterprises LLC | 0 | 44.446
6 Reina Van Hellehof, Maria Blankemeyer, Angela Moore | 12 | 41.381
7 Vegas H, Izzy Beisel, David Beisel | 4 | 73.645
8 Contigo, Izzy Beisel, David Beisel | 4 | 76.326
9 Casadimo, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg | 4 | 77.398
10 Formidable Diamant, Sam Pegg, Harlow Investment Enterprises LLC | 8 | 73.677
Birthday Wish Come True – Claire Austin Wins the $10,000 Futures Prix of Winter Classic 7
It was Claire Austin’s (USA) lucky day in the Standlee Sanctuary at WEC – Wilmington Winter Classic 7 as she claimed the $10,000 Futures Prix win on her birthday.
Not only did it make her birthday special, but Austin also left the ring feeling déjà vu, having won the same class this week last year with her own K T Miel (Epleaser Van T Heike x Violet P).
Bobby Murphy designed the track that allowed only two-partnerships to move onto the immediate jump-off, Austin and Richard Rinehart (USA).
“It looked simple but everything came up quite fast. The turns were tight and if your horse had a drift, it was easy to have a rail. It was definitely more challenging than I thought it was going to be,” Austin discussed her thoughts on the track.
The 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding was quick around the jump-off track with an unfortunate four faults, but it was still enough for the duo to clinch the win in 36.773 seconds.
WEC has played an instrumental role in Austin’s development with her mount, “It has been so nice. He hadn’t shown a lot before I got him, so he got to do the 1.20m for a while here. It is so nice to have the futures that is only a 1.30m. It is so exciting to be able to jump a bigger money class and it is so inviting for young riders and horses.”
Rinehart and his own 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Claas (Chalet x Glorielle), had eight faults in the jump-off for second place.
Aiden Udelson (USA) was the fastest four-faulter to round out the top three aboard the coming 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Jackson VDL (Zirocco Blue VDL x Design O).
$10,000 Futures Prix Results:
1 K T Miel, Claire Austin, Claire Austin | 0 | 4 | 36,773
2 Claas, Richard Rinehart, Catherine Rinehart | 0 | 8 | 44.558
3 Jackson VDL, Aiden Udelson, Cleveland Equestrian | 4 | 72.046
4 Ivy, David Crawford, Australian American Equine Partners | 4 | 73.373
5 Bacyrouge, Lindsay Traisnel, Lindsay Traisnel | 4 | 78.279
6 Borsalino Birdavenue, Leighton Goldberg, Leighton Goldberg | 8 | 81.056
7 Fleur-De-Lis, Lanie Thomas, Manon Deslauriers | 12 | 78.466
8 Canvas Van Hof Ter Naillen, Eric Sassmannshausen, Eric Sassmannshausen | 12 | 80.726
9 Bahntina, Chelsea Francis, Gina Filewicz | EL
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Results can be found at horseshowing.com.
All horse show images are provided by Winslow Photography and can be purchased onsite at WEC – Wilmington or online through their website.